Though 'Mr Lawrence' has some slow and dreamy passages, it also possesses a fascination you can't deny: one that shows the original cinematic mind of Nagisa Oshima who made 'Empire of Passion' and 'Empire of the Senses'. David Bowie is nicely cast as the enigmatic prisoner who arrives at the camp at the same time as the Japanese officer who seems hypnotised by his personality. Tom Conti gives a very civilised performance as the Japanese-speaking Allied officer who tries to keep the camp's atrocities within bounds, while Jack Thompson is excellent as the far less cerebral group captain in charge of the prisoners. Probably best of all is Takeshi as the master-sergeant only beginning to understand what human relationships are all about. For all its faults, this is a film you won't easily forget. And the insistent theme tune (written by co-star Ryuichi Sakamoto) is equally haunting.

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